Folding lawn-swing.



v (No Model.)

Patented Apr. 8, |902;

n. c. vcome. FOLDING LAWN SWING.

Apphction led Oct. 18, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Slm 2.

Nrrnn Srarns ATnNr FFICE.

FOLDING LAWN-SWING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,133, dated April 8,1902 Application filed October 1S, 1901, Serial No. 79,129. (No model.)

.T0 @ZZ 1071/0171/ it may concern.:

Beit known that I, DAVID C. Connu, a citizen of the United States,residing atvElizabethtown, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Folding Lawn-Swing, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding lawnswings; and the object of thesaine is to provide simple and eiective jointed means in the frame whichwill permit the same to be compactly closed to reduce the space ofoccupancyfor storage, transportation, and other purposes withoutremoving any bolts, screws, or loosening nuts and formed either ofmetal, wood,` or a composition of both of these materials, thesuspending means being readily detachable and attachable and theseat-platform, to which said latter means are connected, having the seatdevices foldable over thereon to materially reduce the normal extent ofthe same.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a swing embodying thefeatures of the invention and shown arranged for use. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the frame shown folded in compact form. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of a suspended platform for supporting the seats andshowing the latter folded over thereon. Fig. a is a detail perspectiveview of a connecting-bracket for a portion of the parts. Fig. 5 is adetail perspective view of a fulcrum device for some of the parts. Fig.6 is a detail perspective view showing the joint and connectionfor theone set of end braces for the upper part of the frame. Fig. 7 is detailelevation of the joint and means of connection for the opposite sets ofside braces for the frame.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

'Ihe numeral l designates uprights or standards, which are disposed atan outward angle of inclination when in normal supporting position andare adapted to be formed ot' angleiron or other metal', wood, or othermaterial. By forming the said standards or uprights with across-sectional angular contour means for attaching the ends of theseveral braces is provided. To the upper portions of the opposite pairsot' uprights the lower ends of end braces 2 are pivotally connected andare crossed near their upper extremities and connected by a pivot 3, andon opposite side of the joint thus formed keeper-disks 4 are held. Tothe upper ends of the said braces 2, by means of pivots 5, are auxiliarybraces (5, which are also pivotally connected to the upper ends of theuprights. The inner ends of the said auxiliary braces extend freely inward beyond the points of their pivotal con nection with the said braces2 for depression between the upper portions of the disks and form a lockto limit the spread of the up? rights in a transverse direction and alsoto reinforce the braces 2 by taking up a part O'Ir the strain that isbrought to bear thereon. As clearly shown by Fig. 6, the inner ends ofthe auxiliary braces are cut oit at an angleof inclination to fit downupon the edges of the braces 2 above the crossed joint of the latter,the angle of the said ends of the braces 6 corresponding to the angle ofthe braces 2f' 5** or the edges of the latter when said braces 2arefopened to their full extent.

Extending longitudinally of each side Iof the uprights, at the upperportions of the lat-` ter, is a jointed suspendingbar comprising twosections 7 and S, which are each pivoted to an upright at a pointbetweenthe planes of the pivots of the braces 2 and 6, the pivots of the saidsections being in longitudinal alinement, the greater portions ot' thesec-` tions being located inwardly from their pivots, and each has anotch 9 in the upper edge portion of the outer end. The inner end of thesection 7 is pivoted to the section 8, this pivotal arrangement of thetwo sections being such that their. inner ends will overlap whenlongitudinally disposed, the inner free end of the section 8 having aheaded stud 10 to enter a notch in the upper edge of the section 7 toprevent the two sections from lowering below a horizont-al plane. Theouter projecting ends of the jointed suspendingbars suspend the swingingmeans below, and hence considerable weight is brought to bear on saidends, and it is necessary to retain them in positive position when indistended IOO .action and at their point of crossing are unconnected, sothat they will slip easily on -f tinuing therefrom and side arms.

eachother in opening or closing the same.

The outer notches 9 of the sections 7 and 8 are provided for t-heremovable engagement therewith of headed studs 12 on the outer sides ofthe upper ends of hanger-bars 13, which extend downwardly and have theirlower' ends pivotally attached to the outer side portions of theopposite ends of angular side bars 14, having 'transverse cross-slats 15therein to produce a sustaining-platform 16, which also serves as afoot-platform for the swing. By constructing the bars 14 angular incross-section a reliable seating means for the opposite ends of theslats 15is provided, and from a structural standpoint a simple andconvenient method of forming the platform results. The hanger-bars 13are iirst curved inwardly and then outwardly to give them a positiveclearance, and the lower extremities are substantially straight. Twoslatted seats 17 are disposed on the platform, though it is obvious insome instances this number might be varied, each seat compris- -ing abase resting portion, with a back con- To the rear side of the backportion of each seat a pair of brackets 18 are secured, one at eachside, and, as clearly shown by Fig. 4, each bracket comprises a pair ofarms19 termif nally secured to the back portion of the seat andconverging to a rear central head 20,`car rying a fulcrnm 2l to serve asa pivot connection for the lower portion of each hanger-bar inrelationto the back portion of opposite sides of the seat and permiteach seat to sway in an upright position in conformity with the movementof the han ger-bars connected thereto. The inner portion of thebase-rest of each seat has pendent supports 22, secured to oppositesides thereof by a pivotal connecting device 23, (shown in detail byFig. 5,) the lower ends of the said pendent supports being also pivotedto the outer sides of the angularv ply pushed toward each other. Inrearranging the frame for supporting service the uprights are drawnoutwardly from each other and the folding connecting parts will assumethe position shown by Fig. 1 without manual adjustment or disposition.As shown by Fig. 3, the hanger-bars, platform, and seats may also bereduced to compact form by throwing the seats over on the platform andinfolding the hanger-bars in reverse position.

The complete folding organization set forth is as an entirety preferredby reason of the conveniencein packing,storing,transporting, and settingup in operative position; but it is obvious that at times other swingingmeans vmay be used in connection with the frame,

having hangers that can be separably attached to the suspending-bars.

The pivotal connecting devices 23 comprise a base-support 24, which issecured to the under side of the base-rest of the seat, and anupstanding head 25 at the outer end of said support, a fulcrum 26projecting from said head for engagement with the upper end of thependent support 22 in each instance. Both the brackets and the pivotaldevices can be easily attached, and the device as an entirety presents astrong and durable swing for lawn purposes, though adapted to be usedelsewhere', as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Aswing comprising a frame having uprights, upper end braces pivotallyconnected to said uprights, auxiliary braces also pivoted to saiduprights and to the ends of said rstnamed braces, suspending-barspivotally connected to the opposite side portions of the frame, andswinging means connected to said suspending-bars.

2. A swing comprising a frame having uprights, foldingbraces connectingthe uprights at the upper portion of opposite ends of the frame, jointedsuspending-bars at the upper opposite side portions of the framepivotally connected to the uprights, retaining-braces pivotallyatt-ached to the suspending-bars and uprights, and swinging means havinghangers terminally connected to the outer ends of the suspending-bars.

3. A swing comprising a frame having uprights, braces pivotallyconnected to said uprights, auxiliary braces also pivoted to saiduprights and to the ends of said rst-named braces, and provided withbeveled ends adapted to bear on and engage the upper edge portions ofthe first-named braces, suspendingbars pivotally connected to theopposite side portions of the frame, and swinging means connected tosaid suspending-bars.

4. A swing comprisinga frame having uprights, folding braces in sets atthe upper end portions of the frame, jointed suspendingbars pivotallyattached to the uprights at points between the points of attachment ofsaid folding braces, andswinging devices attached to thesuspending-bars.

IOO

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5. Aswing comprising uprights, thejointed suspending-bars arranged atopposite sides of the swing and composed of sections pivoted betweentheir endsto the uprights and pivotally connected at their inner ends,said sections also having their inner portions interlocked, the bracesextending from the uprights to the sections and connected with thelatter between the said uprights, and swinging devices suspended fromthe outer ends of the sections, substantially as described.

6. A swing comprising a frame having uprights, upper end bracespivot-ally connected to the uprights and crossing each other, the pointsof crossing of the said braces being secured by pivots, a retainingmeans applied to the crossed pivoted portions of the said braces,auxiliary braces also pivoted to the uprights and to the upper ends ofthe iii-stnamed braces and having their inner ends angularly formed tobear on the upper edge portions of the latter braces, suspending devicesalso foldingly constructed and disposed on opposite sides of the frame,and a swinging means attached to said suspending devices.

7. A swing comprising a frame having uprights, folding braces at theupper end portions ol the frame, jointed suspending-bars pivotallyattached to the upper opposite sides of the frame, the one section ofeach bar having a stud to removably engage a notch in the other,retaining-braces having their lower ends pivotally attached to theuprights and their upper ends similarly connected to the sections of thesuspending-bars on opposite sides of the joint of the latter, the upperportions of the retaining-braces being crossed, and swing means attachedto said suspending-bars.

8. A swing comprising uprights, jointed suspending-bars composed ofsections pivoted between their ends to the uprights and' eX- tendinginward and outward therefrom, swing devices suspended from the outerportions of the sections, and braces connecting the inner portions ofthe sections with the uprights, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afIiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID C. COBLE.

Witnesses:

I. N. S. WILL, R. BUCH.

